Web Content Viewer (JSR 286)

Web Content Viewer (JSR 286)

Background Information

The Thermy™campaign is a national consumer education initiative developed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This national consumer education campaign is designed to promote food thermometer use. Supporting the Fight BAC!® message of "cook," this campaign is based on studies showing significant risk for foodborne illness when color is used to judge when food has been cooked to a safe temperature.

FSIS launched this campaign recognizing that, as the experts said, "Thermometer use is a tough sell." Employing the best of social marketing concepts, the Food Safety Education Staff used focus group feedback to develop the program, educational materials (in Spanish and English), the slogan, and the FSIS messenger—Thermy™.

Using partnerships, FSIS teamed with the thermometer industry and retail grocery stores across the country to teach consumers the importance of using food thermometers. Grocery stores across the country have used Thermy™materials for their own in-store promotions and educational programs. Thermy™was even featured, along with the Fight BAC!® character, in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2000, just eight months after the official launch of the campaign.

Learn the goals of the program, when and where it got started, and why Thermy™ became its messenger. Find out about obtaining educational materials or borrowing the Thermy™ costume. Meet our educational partners and see what's in store for the future.